Saturday, June 29, 2024

When Pocomoke Was Young- A continuing weekly feature.

 


(Chapter flow:)

ITS ORIGIN AND TOWN LIMITS

TOWN LIMITS

GROWTH, CHANGE OF NAME, ETC.

MERCANTILE ASPECT

MANUFACTURING

TRADES ETC.

SHIPPING INTERESTS

EASTERN SHORE STEAMBOAT CO.

SHIP BUILDING ETC.

HOTELS, LIVERY STABLES, ETC.

PHYSICIANS

LAWYERS

POST OFFICE

PRINTING OFFICES

SOCIAL ASPECT, ETC.

MORAL ASPECT

TEMPERANCE CAUSE

SCHOOLS

CHURCHES

Note:  In duplicating this material for publishing on The Pocomoke Public Eye we have made minor adjustments to correct some of the spelling, punctuation, etc. We believe the errors were not in Rev. Murray's original writing but occurred in the process of formatting the material to a digital format for viewing online.

CHURCHES (CONTINUED)
In 1844, the Presbyterian Church, in New Town, was 
built, and on the 1st day of January, 1845, it was dedicated 
to the worship of Almighty God. The reader will be 
informed that the Presbyterian organization in New Town 
is a branch of the Pitt's Creek Presbyterian Church at 
Beaver Dams, which was organized by the Rev. Francis 
Makemmie as early, probably, as A. D. 1683 or 1684. 
At this primitive church, the Presbyterians of the sur- 
rounding country, worship in the days of yore. When 
in the course of time the population of New Town 
increased and the members of the Presbyterian Church 
became more numerous in the town and in its immediate 
vicinity, the necessity of the situation demanded a house 
of worship in New Town, and hence the present estab- 
lishment in 1845. The Pitt's Creek Presbyterian Church 
at Beaver Dams and New Town is a unit in name, each 
having their names upon the same church record. They 
are a unit in doctrine, in church polity, and in every 
interest that constitutes one church; the pastor of one is 
the pastor of the other, and they all, in common, are 
responsible for his support. The Presbyterian Church in 
New Town is built of the best material, and in work- 
manlike manner. It has good proportions and is kept in 
the neatest style. 

It stands on a small elevation on a beautiful lot on 
Market street, and presents, to the passer by a picturesque 
appearance. Nearly all of those who aided in its erection 
have passed away. Chief among contributors were Handy 
Mills, David Smith, Jacob Boston, Stephen Hargis, John 
S. Stevenson, James T. Dickinson and Thomas W. 
Hargis. This church has been endowed with some 
legacies. The venerable Handy Mills bequeathed to it 
two farms, worth at that day, probably, seven or eight 
thousand dollars, and David Smith also bequeathed to it a 
valuable farm. The church in New Town and the ground 
upon which it stands cost four thousand dollars. It has a 
beautifully located parsonage which cost thirty-two hundred 
dollars. The church owns a beautiful cemetery on the 
old Winter Quarter farm. The cemetery cost about eight 
hundred dollars. The whole property of the Pres- 
byterian Church in Pocomoke City, cost eight thou- 
sand dollars. The membership of this church including 
Pitt's Creek is one hundred and ten. The church 
in Pocomoke City has a fine Sabbath School with 
fourteen officers and teachers, and the names of seventy 
pupils on the school roll, and fifty in average attendance, 
and three hundred volumes in the library. I will say as a 
matter of justice to this school, that it lost, by removal, 
during the year 1880, twenty-six scholars, which has 
detracted from its average standing in numbers. The 
running expenses of the church and Sabbath School in 
Pocomoke City annually, including pastors salary, 
benevolent collections and incidental expenses amounts 
to 1300 dollars. 

There is an item of history connected with Pitts Creek 
Church that will be interesting to the reader. The facts 
are these. The original church was built by Francis 
Makemmie the pioneer of Presbyterianism in this country 
while it was yet subject to the dominion of Great Britain, 
consequently it was among the first Presbyterian churches 
built in this country. Again, Mrs. Holden, of Accomac Co., 
Va., the daughter of Francis Makemmie, left a legacy 
to the church at Pitt's Creek, the interest of which is 
annually appropriated to the support of the gospel in said 
church. The pastors who have served this church from 
its organization so far as I have any means of ascertaining, 
are as follows : first, Francis Makemmie. How long Mr. 
Makemmie was pastor of this church, I have no data upon 
which to fix the term of his pastorate, and indeed, I have 
no record of any pastor of this church, from the days of 
Francis Makemmie, until the time when the Rev. Samuel 
McMaster was its pastor. I can only say that I have had 
dates of his pastorate from 1795 to 1801, and there the 
record stops until 1818. It may be of interest to the 
reader, to be informed that the Rev. Samuel McMaster 
was the grandfather of Samuel S. and Dr. John T. B. 
McMaster. In 1818, the Rev. S. Sanders was pastor of 
Pitt's Creek Church. How long Mr. Sanders was in the 
pastorate is unknown. 

The Rev. Thomas B. Balch D. D. succeeded Mr. 
Sanders in the pastorate, but dates are wanting to show 
the time when he entered and retired from it. But 
this much I can say of him, that the name of Dr. Balch 
was a household word in the community. In 1831, the 
Rev. Cornelius Mustard was pastor of the church. After 
Mr. Mustard retired, then followed in succession, the 
Rev's. J. J. Graff, James M. Olmstead, B. G. McPhail, 
Elkanah Mackey, William D. Mackey, Joesph L. Polk, 
L. P. Bowen and James Conway. Mr. Conway has but 
recently resigned the pastorate of this church, having had 
a call to serve another church in the state of Delaware. 
Consequently the church is without a pastor for the time 
being. The above list comprises the names of all the ' 
ministers, so far as I have any knowledge or means of 
ascertaining, who have been pastors of the church from its 
organization to the present time. The Presbyterian 
Church in Pocomoke City is quite popular and 
prosperous.
CONCLUDES NEXT SATURDAY HERE AT THE POCOMOKE PUBLIC EYE.




Friday, June 28, 2024

Pocomoke motorcyclist sentenced in Accomack highway spree.

 

(Shore Daily News)

A 36-year-old Maryland man was sentenced Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court to two years of active time in jail for felony eluding, driving without a license, and reckless driving.

(View news story:)

Md. man convicted of several charges in Accomack Court - Shore Daily News


Time Machine Preview

This Sunday here at The Pocomoke Public Eye: 

PLUS

1959  ..
10a.m. June 30th
Transition: Navy leaves. NASA takes over.

2008  ..


1939  ..



1897  ..


1952  ..



An Enchanted 4th Friday this week!

 FRIDAY WEATHER - GREAT!


**Stay for the fireworks**



Thursday, June 27, 2024

Secretary Day visits Pocomoke City-

 


        (City of Pocomoke photos)

    Agency head Jake Day and members from his Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development made rounds in Pocomoke City Wednesday touring on-going and completed projects.  Day was mayor of Salisbury prior to becoming Secretary of the state agency.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

On the horizon- top spot for Mayor Nock on the Maryland Municipal League.

 

City of Pocomoke  Facebook graphic

Mayor Nock will succeed newly elected President Michael O'Connor of Frederick at the completion of O'Connor's 2024-2025 term.

Pocomoke River raft race at Snow Hill-

 





 Anonymous said...

It may be the first raft race in Snow Hill but it is certainly NOT the inaugural raft race on the Pocomoke River. The annual Cypress Festivals in Pocomoke City featured food, fun, rides, a tug-of-war and RAFT RACES. While many competed, who could forget the epic battles between Turbo Tunnel and Lankford-Sysco?


Pocomoke Public Eye says:  Note- we revised the wording of our headline.  Thanks for catching the discrepancy!

Another tragedy facing the Knupp family? Mother is charged.

 


BERLIN, MD - Tiffany Knupp, the mother of fatal hit-and-run victim Gavin Knupp, has been charged with multiple counts of embezzlement and theft in Worcester County.

(View news story:)

Gavin Knupp’s Mother Charged with Embezzlement, Theft from Gavin Knupp Foundation | Latest News | wboc.com


Tuesday, June 25, 2024

T-shirts proceeds for a worthy cause-

 The Worcester County Sheriff's Office now has 2 styles of t-shirts available for sale to the public. All proceeds go to our peer wellness fund. T-shirts are $20 dollars and can be purchased at our office or at any of our community events that we are selling them.



Bye, bye Dali-

 

      (WTKR)

The cargo ship Dali passed under the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Monday on its way to Norfolk for repairs.  The bridge was closed to traffic during the ship's passage while many onlookers viewed from land.  The Dali's collision into the Francis Scott Key bridge in March destroyed that bridge.


Anonymous Anonymous said...

Did the State get her insurance information before letting her leave the scene of the accident?

Pocomoke Public Eye says...

As the NTSB continues its investigation the city of Baltimore and the ship owners reached an agreement for its departure.  It included agreement for crew members to be available for civil depositions.  We have not seen reference to information specifically concerning insurance.

Sunday, June 23, 2024

Passing of former Crisfield Coach Bill Cain at 77-

 

(Salisbury Daily Times- March, 1982)

(obituary excerpt)

He was respectfully known as “Coach Bill Cain.” His basketball coaching record at Crisfield High School was the highlight of his public education career. In only 13 years of coaching basketball at Crisfield High School from 1969 to 1982, he was known for leading a "50 game winning streak." This included four state championships, seven regional titles, five division titles, and five Bayside championships at Crisfield High School. He loved coaching, and he also loved his players whom he formed lifelong friendships with.

(View full obituary:)

William "Bill" Cain Obituary - The Daily Times (delmarvanow.com)


Goodbye Heat Dome, Hello good ol' summertime.

 UPDATED 6/23/24

                                

                                        

(The Pocomoke Public Eye)

We've been keeping track of the heat forecasts the past week and although the most extreme temperatures for the Eastern Shore are now abating some days this week may be in the 90+ range according to predictions.  General rainfall is needed to head off an all-out drought but adequate general precipitation is not in the forecast for the week ahead.

An outdoors burn ban is in effect in Worcester, Somerset, Wicomico and other Eastern Shore counties.



BURN BAN

 

WORCESTER COUNTY: Immediate burn ban in effect and burn permits rescinded in Worcester County

Snow Hill, Maryland – (June 21, 2024): Effective immediately, Worcester County Fire Marshal Matt Owens issued a burn ban, and ALL outdoor burning is banned for an indefinite period of time in Worcester County.

The ban applies to all outdoor ignition sources, with the following exceptions: proper use of gas and charcoal grills, campfires at the County’s commercial, State, and Federal campgrounds, permitted official Ocean City bonfires, private property recreational campfires that are limited to a fire area of two feet with a height of three feet, public fireworks displays, and volunteer fire company training exercises.

“Due to the County’s current dry conditions, the burn ban is effective immediately,” Fire Marshal Owens said. “This ban should reduce the number of out-of-control outside fires, which cause safety concerns for area residents, visitors, and especially responding fire personnel.” 

The ban will remain in effect until the dry conditions dissipate.

All existing outdoor burn permits have been rescinded,” Environmental Programs Director Bob Mitchell said. “Our water tables are extremely low, and this is confirmed by County and USGS monitoring well networks. We have extremely low precipitation totals, and the US drought monitor has the county under a moderate drought category.”

For further information, contact Fire Marshal Owens at 410-632-5666.

Burn bans are also in effect in Somerset, Wicomico and other Eastern Shore counties.

Time Machine: 100 years ago in Pocomoke's newspaper; 2002, 1892, 1968, 1912.


 











February, 2002






Salisbury Daily Times


September, 1892
Baltimore Herald




*May, 1968

Salisbury Daily Times


June, 1912



Democratic Messenger